Writers and poets in the far western mountain area of North Carolina and bordering counties of South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee post announcements, original work and articles on the craft of writing.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Coffee with the Poets and
Writers will meet June 21, 2017, 10:30 AM at Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, NC.
Staci Lynn Bell and Joan Howard will be featured members this month.

Staci Lynn Bell, a Chicago native, has lived in Western North Carolina for
the past 6 years. Having moved many times as a child, her best friends were her
imagination, books and animals. Staci attended University of Wisconsin, Madison
majoring in Communications. She relocated to SW Florida, gaining recognition as
a 25 year radio and television personality and animal advocate. She has
been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, 234 Journal, Old Mountain Press
Anthologies and in Kakalak 2016. Bell has both a poem and short story in Wolf
Warriors: The National Wolfwatcher Coalition Anthology. Staci is a member of
the NCWN.

Joan M. Howard lives in Hiawassee and in Athens, Georgia. Joan loves to
kayak on Lake Chatuge and take long walks on the Chatuge Dam. She holds a BA
from Indiana University and an MA from the University of Oregon. Her poems
have been widely published in journals and anthologies. She published a
poetry collection recently, Death and Empathy: My Sister Web, which is
in memory of her sister, Webster and her husband Jack.

It has been said that, “Howard’s
poetry will not only make you ache for something or someone lost; it will
stitch together a broken heart.”

The public is invited to attend
Coffee with the Poets and Writers. Everyone is invited to take part in Open Mic
and read a poem or short piece of prose.

This event is sponsored by the
North Carolina Writers’ Network West, a program of the state literary
organization, North Carolina Writers’ Network.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Join us for Coffee With the Poets and Writers, Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at 10:30 AM, at the Moss Memorial Library, 26 Anderson St., Hayesville, NC. This month, we are featuring poets Staci Lynn Bell, and Mary Ricketson. This event is open to the public, and an open mic will follow the readings.

Staci Lynn Bell is a Chicago native who attended the University of
Wisconsin, Madison. She relocated to South Florida, gaining popularity
as a 25 year radio and television personality. Bell’s poetry and prose
have also been published in Wild Goose Poetry, Wolf Warriors
Anthology,and 234 Journal. She lives with the loves of her life, her two
dogs, in Hayesville, NC.

Bell's poem, "Escape" has been
published in Old Mountain Press Anthology, Wish You Were Here. Her
poem, "Unanswered Prayers" has been accepted for publication in the fall
edition of Kakalak 2016. Additionally, Bell's poem, "Time," won a
bronze medal and her short story, "Cheyenne" won a silver medal in the
North Carolina Cherokee and Clay County's Silver Arts 2016.

Mary
Ricketson of Murphy NC, has been writing poetry for 20 years; to satisfy a
hunger, to taste life down to the very last drop. She is
inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor. Her poetry has been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future
Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains,
Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Freeing Jonah, and her chapbook I Hear the River Call my Name. Mary's second poetry book is Hanging Dog Creek.

Mary is the Cherokee County Representative
for the North Carolina Writers Network-West, and is the president of Ridgeline
Literary Alliance.

She
won the gold medal for poetry in the 2011 Cherokee County Senior
Games/Silver Arts and silver medal for 2012 and 2013, and first place
in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th anniversary national
poetry contest.

Ricketson writes a monthly column, "Women to Women", for The Cherokee Scout, Murphy's newspaper. She is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an
organic blueberry farmer, and is currently working on a new
collection of poetry.

This event is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network-West. For more information, please call Glenda Council Beall at 828-389-3733.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Local poet Staci Lynn Bell's poem, "Escape" has been published in Old Mountain Press Anthology, Wish You Were Here. Staci's poem, "Unanswered Prayers" has been accepted for publication in the fall edition of. Kakalak2016.Additionally, Bell's poem, "Time," won a bronze medal and her short story, "Cheyenne" won a silver medal in the NC Cherokee and Clay County's Silver Arts 2016.

Staci Lynn Bell is a Chicago native who attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She relocated to South Florida, gaining popularity as a 25 year radio and television personality. Bell’s poetry and prose have also been published in Wild Goose Poetry, Wolf Warriors Anthology,and 234 Journal. She lives with the loves of her life, her two dogs, in Hayesville, NC.